Come Write In!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

I've been thinking about balance a lot lately. Balance is not something I am proficient at. Part of my problem is that I am a servant by nature, but also find myself with the unenviable quality of being a people-pleaser. I really WANT to help people and serve in whatever way I can. And since I can't stand the thought of someone being upset with me, I typically say yes when sometimes I should say no.

I am also married to a man who loves me and wants to protect me from over-extending myself. As a three-fold being, I have been considering my parts, body, soul, and spirit. I am trying to figure out where I am at, what I'm doing well, and where I need improvement. Out of those thoughts came this poem:

Friday, May 22, 2015

As I revisit my blog after months of inactivity, I can hardly believe that this much time has flown by since my last post. It seems that the entire year of 2014 was spent in one medical waiting room or another . . . trying to find answers, trying to feel better. It took every bit of my energy to just go to work and then come home to rest before making my way to bed for the night.

I was able to do a fair amount of writing during this interim - but much of it was what I have come to think of as "gift-writing." My daughter was married in June and I wrote them a poem; my new son-in-law and my daughter-in-law both turned 30 during this time and I wrote poems for them. For the first time ever I was able to join the creative annual theme team at church and I wrote a "theme poem" to go along with Pastor Jim's 2015 theme - A Year of Favor. This was also Pastor Jim and Annette's 25th year of ministry at Bethel, and I wrote poems for both of them. The Minnesota Christian Writers Guild celebrated 65 years of existence, and it was my joy to commemorate that occasion with a poem. There are a couple of new staff members at church, and on their birthdays, as has been my practice with ALL of the staff, I wrote them a poem. It is one of my favorite things to do, and I believe that my friends and family appreciate the effort and love that goes into such a gift.

There are things I haven't been able to get to - my project on the 50 states remains stalled at the 23rd state (I am creating puzzle worksheets for each of them in the order of their statehood, so I am up to Missouri now - can't wait to get to Minnesota!). They will be available for individual download on my new website--soon to be up and running. I will post the address here when it is ready for viewing. I have finally sent my grammar workbook to the publisher, and that should be available by mid-November. It has been a long process, and I am excited to soon hold the results in my hands.

Where does the time go? When can I focus on the things that my heart is so drawn to? I suppose that might happen in about 12-15 years when I can expect to retire from my 9-5 job and spend the days blissfully writing, typing, thinking, designing . . .

In the meantime, as God provides the time and energy, which I know He will, I will write when I can. I have faith in the Giver of all Gifts.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

I was recently interviewed, along with
another poet, on an afternoon radio program.It was an interesting experience that I would love to repeat someday,
hopefully when I learn how to be less verbally “stuck.”The closing question that the host posed to
us was, “What do you do when you get writer’s block?”I had to admit that I rarely encounter that
problem, and in fact, the only time I could remember struggling with it, I
wrote a poem about it!It was a humorous
note on which to end the interview, but as I’ve been reflecting on the entire
experience I realize that I do much more often feel like I have “speaker’s
block.”

I’ve listened to the download of the
interview several times and am struck by the absolute poise and the beautiful,
rich speaking voice of Darice, the other interviewee.But then, I have always been one who wants to
do well, speak well, pray well, and present myself well.And when in a situation like I was in this
week, it is only natural to notice that, in my estimation, the other person
seemed to do a much better job of it than I did.

I did not completely or even partially
ruin my part of this interview, although I did misquote a scripture and stumble
a bit as I was trying to explain its significance in my life.It is the nature of radio to move quickly,
and my thought processes do not tend to do that well.As soon as we answered one of the host’s
questions he was ready to move on, while my mind was still mulling over what
else I could say to expound on what he had already asked.

I am a “muller.”I suppose that is why I don’t feel like I
regularly have to deal with writer’s block.If I sit down to write something specific and nothing is ready to come
out on paper, I move on to something different.That is the benefit of having a variety of projects happening at the
same time.I realize that whatever has
caused me to pause just needs a little bit more time floating around in my
heart and mind before it is ready to be transformed into something tangible.

It’s not that easy to do that with the
spoken word.When you are in
conversation with someone or before a group of people or are called on to
answer a question posed to you, you don’t have the luxury of “word-smithing”
your answer.That is why it is important
to have your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith (and
perhaps our sentences if we let Him).If
He is ever present in our lives than He will be right there to help when we
need to explain or defend or simply share what is on our hearts to share.

But in your
hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But
do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

The Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. John 14:26-27

I thank the Lord for His gifts in my
life, and for the desire to use them for His glory.Here is the short poem I wrote years ago when
I was struggling with writer’s
block.Jesus, please help us all to be
able to give an accounting of the reason for our hope whenever we are asked,
and may our words lead others to the foot of the cross.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

There are not many commercials that I would say I love to watch.But there are a few that are very clever, and
some that are downright endearing.My
favorite is the Subaru commercial of the dad teaching his twin sons to drive a
stick shift.In the midst of their
uncertainty and frustration, and yes, even their competition with each other,
he remains a calm and steadying influence.

This is thirty seconds of refreshing, authentic, heart-wrenching
life.This situation could go either
way.It could have the dad and sons
fuming and yelling at each other, accusations flying between the front and back
seats.But thankfully the creators of
this particular commercial chose to go against the flow.So many dads in the media today are portrayed
as brutish, lazy, irresponsible, or uncaring, to name a few.To be honest, those are just my impressions
of these characters based on my passing exposure to them in commercials – I would
never choose to watch a show that had a character such as this in its
lineup.Not even if it was a
cartoon.

So I am delighted with the portrayal of THIS dad as patient, willing to
offer clear instruction, and ready to give a word of encouragement.His final words as the piece comes to a close
– “You guys are doing a great job, seriously.”

I thought about waiting to post this until Father’s Day, but that doesn’t
come for three more months, and I felt that this was the time.Dads – may the Lord bless you and teach YOU,
so that you, in turn, can train up your
children in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6)

Monday, March 10, 2014

We are in the midst of a new sermon series at church called Growing Maturity. Actually the theme of this whole year is centered around growing in maturity. Pastor Ben, our youth pastor, was preaching yesterday about Spiritual Maturity. One of his points, and there were many good ones, was that someone who is mature desires not only personal growth, but multiplication. We've talked about that concept at church for a long time now, but the thought really captured me this time.

God doesn't desire that we clone ourselves - duplicates whose function and performance are identical to ours. He doesn't need hundreds of Liz's running around trying to coordinate and organize and facilitate. At face value that may seem like a good thing, but trust me - it's NOT. What he wants us to do is to mentor others so that they have the skills to listen and to walk in the path that the Lord has ordained for them. He wants us to multiply. That reminds me of a poem . . .

Saturday, March 8, 2014

I've been writing poetry since the 70's. In all that time, and of all of those words that have managed to make their way from my mind and heart out onto paper, the poem that is perhaps my "signature" poem is My Father's Eyes. It is my husband's favorite poem. It is a poem that I wrote around the time of one of my birthdays. Usually a pretty upbeat time of life, but for me, more often a very pensive and introspective time. This is why . . .

My mother died on the operating table when I was born. I was her fifth pregnancy, and she had suffered some kind of abdominal injury years earlier that had weakened the lining of her uterus. I don't know that they were aware of the implications of further pregnancies on that kind of injury. I don't know a lot of things about what exactly happened medically during that time. I only know that a mom and dad went to the hospital to have a baby that day, and the dad ended up coming home alone. It was completely unexpected. It was devastating. My dad was undone, and grieved deeply.

This poem is a snapshot of my life. I must testify to the truth of God's faithfulness and goodness in holding me close through every part of it. When I was lonely. When I felt responsible. When I felt unloved. And, yes, when finally accepting the fact that I AM LOVED. May you experience that same awareness of His care in your life.

About Me

My given name is Elizabeth Ann. I remember being referred to as "the Raggedy Ann" at times when I was growing up, but more often than not my older brothers would simply call me "Little Bit." From that nickname came the title of my first book of poems, "A Little Bit of Life." I have also published a second book, entitled "Harvest of My Heart," and am working toward accumulating enough to fill book number three. I have also published "Cure for the Obscure: Grammar Exercises that Clear Up Cloudy Rules," and am almost halfway through a set of worksheets/puzzles about the 50 States. I am trained in Elementary Education, am a Breast Cancer survivor, wife of 37 years, mom to two, grandma to four. I love to teach and encourage. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind. I hope you will be blessed by reading the things the Lord has helped me to write.